The group's frontman Mick Hucknall wrote the song when he was 17, while living at his father's house. In a 2018 interview, Hucknall said the song was inspired by a member of the teaching staff at Manchester School of Art, where Hucknall was a fine-art student: the lecturer suggested the greatest paintings are produced when the artist is working in a stream of consciousness, which Hucknall then tried to apply to songwriting – "Holding Back the Years" was the second song he wrote using this method.[5][6][7]
The song's writing credits are shared between Hucknall and Neil Moss, a friend and member of Hucknall's first group, the Frantic Elevators.[8] However, according to Hucknall, Moss did not co-write the song, but the credit was added "to remember the great times we had" as the pair had written so many other songs together.[5] The song was first performed by the Frantic Elevators. The song's "I'll keep holding on" chorus was not added until many years later, after the band had split and Hucknall had formed Simply Red.[5][4]
Hucknall's mother left the family when he was three: the upheaval caused by this event inspired him to write the song.[9] However, according to Hucknall, he did not realise what the song was about until it was finished: he characterised it as a song "about that moment where you know you have to leave home and make your mark, but the outside world is scary. So you’re holding back the years". He said that the line "Strangled by the wishes of pater" was inspired by arguments he had with his father: according to Hucknall, the two clashed often during his teenage years "because there was no woman to act as referee".[5][7]
Music videoedit
The accompanying music video for "Holding Back the Years" focuses on Mick Hucknall, who, while singing the song, walks through the English countryside and Whitby Abbey carrying luggage and thinking about his childhood memories and the difficult relationship he had with his father. The other members of Simply Red (except for Fritz McIntyre, who plays a one-man band) play local cricketers who greet Hucknall as he passes by and later watch him on the Whitby 199 steps. In the last part of the song, Hucknall is seen riding a train, the scenes for which were filmed at and around Goathland railway station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.[10]
^Simply Red (1986). Holding Back the Years (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). WEA. YZ 70, 248 704-7.
^Simply Red (1985). Holding Back the Years (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Elektra Records. EKR 29T, 966 872-0.
^Simply Red (1986). Holding Back the Years (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). WEA. YZ 70T, 248 703-0.
^Simply Red (1986). Holding Back the Years (Canadian 12-inch single vinyl disc). Elektra Records. 96 68430.
^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 275. ISBN0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
^"Simply Red – Holding Back the Years" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
^"Simply Red – Holding Back the Years" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
^"European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 23. 14 June 1986. p. 13. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
^Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Simply Red". Sisältää hitin – 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021(PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 235. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
^"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Holding Back the Years". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
^"Simply Red – Holding Back the Years" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
^"Simply Red – Holding Back the Years". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
^"Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
^"Top 100 Singles". Music Week. 24 January 1987. p. 24.
^"1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. 27 December 1986. p. Y-21.
^"British single certifications – Simply Red – Holding Back the Years". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
^"ANOTHER LEVEL | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
May 11, 2024
holding, back, years, song, british, soul, band, simply, released, third, single, from, their, debut, studio, album, picture, book, 1985, 1986, ballad, reached, number, billboard, number, singles, chart, initially, been, released, year, before, reaching, numbe. Holding Back the Years is a song by the British soul and pop band Simply Red released as the third single from their debut studio album Picture Book 1985 In 1986 the ballad 4 reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart Holding Back the Years had initially been released in the UK the year before reaching number 51 The song was nominated in the category of Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards Holding Back the Years 1986 reissued UK 7 inch vinyl singleSingle by Simply Redfrom the album Picture BookB side I Won t Feel Bad Drowning in My Own Tears re issue Released4 November 1985 1985 11 04 1 6 May 1986 1986 05 06 re issue 2 GenreSophisti pop blue eyed soul soft rock 3 Length4 28 album version 4 04 single version LabelElektra WEASongwriter s Mick Hucknall Neil MossProducer s Stewart LevineSimply Red singles chronology Come to My Aid 1985 Holding Back the Years 1985 Jericho 1986 Jericho 1986 Holding Back the Years re release 1986 Open Up the Red Box 1986 Music video Holding Back the Years on YouTube Contents 1 Background 2 Music video 3 Track listings 4 Charts 4 1 Weekly charts 4 2 Year end charts 5 Certifications 6 Another Level version 6 1 Track listings 7 ReferencesBackground editThe group s frontman Mick Hucknall wrote the song when he was 17 while living at his father s house In a 2018 interview Hucknall said the song was inspired by a member of the teaching staff at Manchester School of Art where Hucknall was a fine art student the lecturer suggested the greatest paintings are produced when the artist is working in a stream of consciousness which Hucknall then tried to apply to songwriting Holding Back the Years was the second song he wrote using this method 5 6 7 The song s writing credits are shared between Hucknall and Neil Moss a friend and member of Hucknall s first group the Frantic Elevators 8 However according to Hucknall Moss did not co write the song but the credit was added to remember the great times we had as the pair had written so many other songs together 5 The song was first performed by the Frantic Elevators The song s I ll keep holding on chorus was not added until many years later after the band had split and Hucknall had formed Simply Red 5 4 Hucknall s mother left the family when he was three the upheaval caused by this event inspired him to write the song 9 However according to Hucknall he did not realise what the song was about until it was finished he characterised it as a song about that moment where you know you have to leave home and make your mark but the outside world is scary So you re holding back the years He said that the line Strangled by the wishes of pater was inspired by arguments he had with his father according to Hucknall the two clashed often during his teenage years because there was no woman to act as referee 5 7 Music video editThe accompanying music video for Holding Back the Years focuses on Mick Hucknall who while singing the song walks through the English countryside and Whitby Abbey carrying luggage and thinking about his childhood memories and the difficult relationship he had with his father The other members of Simply Red except for Fritz McIntyre who plays a one man band play local cricketers who greet Hucknall as he passes by and later watch him on the Whitby 199 steps In the last part of the song Hucknall is seen riding a train the scenes for which were filmed at and around Goathland railway station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway 10 Track listings editStandard 7 inch single 11 A Holding Back the Years B I Won t Feel Bad UK 7 inch single 1986 12 A Holding Back the Years B Drowning in My Tears Standard 12 inch single 13 A1 Holding Back the Years B1 I Won t Feel Bad B2 Drowning in My Tears UK and Canadian 12 inch single 1986 14 15 A1 Holding Back the Years B1 Drowning in My Tears B2 Picture Book in Dub Charts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1986 Peakposition Australia Kent Music Report 16 16 Austria O3 Austria Top 40 17 22 Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 18 8 Canada Top Singles RPM 19 6 Canada Adult Contemporary RPM 20 1 Europe European Hot 100 Singles 21 33 Finland Suomen virallinen lista 22 26 Ireland IRMA 23 1 Netherlands Dutch Top 40 24 3 Netherlands Single Top 100 25 5 New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 26 40 UK Singles OCC 27 2 US Billboard Hot 100 28 1 US Adult Contemporary Billboard 29 4 US Hot Black Singles Billboard 30 29 US Cash Box Top 100 31 4 Chart 2006 Peakposition US Smooth Jazz Songs Billboard 32 13 Year end charts edit Chart 1986 Position Australia Kent Music Report 33 89 Belgium Ultratop 34 76 Canada Top Singles RPM 35 50 Netherlands Dutch Top 40 36 50 UK Singles OCC 37 33 US Billboard Hot 100 38 22Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units sales United Kingdom BPI 39 Gold 400 000 Sales streaming figures based on certification alone Another Level version edit Holding Back the Years Single by Another LevelA side Be Alone No More remix double A side Released1999GenreR amp BLength4 18LabelNorthwestsideSongwriter s Mick HucknallNeil MossProducer s D InfluenceAnother Level singles chronology I Want You for Myself 1999 Be Alone No More Remix Holding Back the Years 1999 From the Heart 1999 In 1999 English R amp B boy band Another Level released their version as a double A side with a remix of their earlier hit Be Alone No More This release reached No 11 on the UK Singles Chart 40 Track listings edit UK CD1 single Be Alone No More C amp J remix featuring Jay Z 3 31 Holding Back the Years 4 18 Girl What You Wanna Do full length version 5 27 UK CD2 single Holding Back the Years radio edit 4 18 Be Alone No More Full Intention radio edit 3 41 Be Alone No More C amp J remix 3 31References edit New Singles Music Week 2 November 1985 p 16 Search Simply Red Toto Eclipse of the Heart The Best of Eighties Soft Rock Rolling Stone 12 June 2014 Archived from the original on 21 January 2018 Retrieved 27 February 2018 a b Holden Stephen 11 March 1987 Simply Red s 2D Album Blends Funk with Ballads The New York Times Retrieved 5 October 2008 a b c d Simpson Dave 27 November 2018 Simply Red how we made Holding Back the Years The Guardian Retrieved 29 November 2018 Mick Hucknall thanks Manchester for amazing start BBC News 24 October 2012 Retrieved 29 November 2018 a b Wintle Angela 23 February 2013 Mick Hucknall on his daily routine going solo and etching The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 29 November 2018 Holding Back The Years Simplyred com Archived from the original on 30 October 2016 Retrieved 7 September 2014 Davies Hugh 19 June 2001 Simply Red star cleared after arrest for rape The Daily Telegraph UK Retrieved 11 October 2008 Simply Red 26 April 2009 Simply Red Holding Back The Years Retrieved 25 January 2018 via YouTube Simply Red 1985 Holding Back the Years UK 7 inch single vinyl disc Elektra Records EKR 29 Simply Red 1986 Holding Back the Years UK 7 inch single vinyl disc WEA YZ 70 248 704 7 Simply Red 1985 Holding Back the Years UK 12 inch single vinyl disc Elektra Records EKR 29T 966 872 0 Simply Red 1986 Holding Back the Years UK 12 inch single vinyl disc WEA YZ 70T 248 703 0 Simply Red 1986 Holding Back the Years Canadian 12 inch single vinyl disc Elektra Records 96 68430 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 275 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 N B The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 12 June 1988 Simply Red Holding Back the Years in German O3 Austria Top 40 Retrieved 4 April 2018 Simply Red Holding Back the Years in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved 4 April 2018 Top RPM Singles Issue 0689 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 4 April 2018 Top RPM Adult Contemporary Issue 0699 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 4 April 2018 European Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 3 no 23 14 June 1986 p 13 Retrieved 16 December 2020 Pennanen Timo 2021 Simply Red Sisaltaa hitin 2 laitos Levyt ja esittajat Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1 1 1960 30 6 2021 PDF in Finnish Helsinki Kustannusosakeyhtio Otava p 235 Retrieved 5 July 2022 The Irish Charts Search Results Holding Back the Years Irish Singles Chart Retrieved 4 April 2018 Nederlandse Top 40 week 4 1986 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 4 April 2018 Simply Red Holding Back the Years in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved 4 April 2018 Simply Red Holding Back the Years Top 40 Singles Retrieved 4 April 2018 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 4 April 2018 Billboard Hot 100 Billboard 12 July 1986 Retrieved 22 July 2023 Adult Contemporary Billboard 24 May 1986 Retrieved 22 July 2023 Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 26 July 1986 Retrieved 22 July 2023 Cash Box Top 100 Singles July 5 1986 Cash Box Retrieved 3 January 2021 Simply Red Chart History Smooth Jazz Airplay Billboard Archived from the original on 17 November 2021 Retrieved 22 July 2023 Kent Music Report No 650 29 December 1986 gt National Top 100 Singles for 1986 Kent Music Report Retrieved 10 December 2019 via Imgur Jaaroverzichten 1986 in Dutch Ultratop Retrieved 16 December 2020 Top 100 Singles of 86 RPM Retrieved 16 December 2020 via Library and Archives Canada Top 100 Jaaroverzicht van 1986 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 6 March 2023 Top 100 Singles Music Week 24 January 1987 p 24 1986 The Year in Music amp Video Top Pop Singles Billboard Vol 98 no 52 27 December 1986 p Y 21 British single certifications Simply Red Holding Back the Years British Phonographic Industry Retrieved 28 September 2021 ANOTHER LEVEL full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Official Charts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Holding Back the Years amp oldid 1220432583, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
